How do you write?

[serria]

Technically, I mean. What kind of computer do you use? Or do you write freehand/some other way? Do you use any special programs? Microsoft Word, or something like Write or Die? Do you care about the font you use?

I'm one of those cliche aspiring authors who bought a Netbook. I heard that's kind of a stereotype, but mine really has been perfect for me. My normal laptop is too big to carry around, and the Netbook fits in my handbag and has a 7+ hour long battery life. I purposefully don't have any other programs except for Open Office on it, and it isn't hooked up to the Internet so I can't be distracted.

I use Open Office because it's free, and my Netbook didn't come with Microsoft Word. Actually, I've done a lot of writing just on Wordpad because it loads so quickly, haha.

Comments

[badass_tiger]

My first thought when I saw the title of the entry was 'erratically' :p

I use Microsoft Word on my laptop, and I have for seven years now. I've tried other programmes, but I find that I've become so accustomed to Word, my writing style changes when I try other programmes (e.g. my sentences get shorter and everything sounds brief and clipped). Sometimes I use Notepad for a quick drabble that is going to be less than 2k words and I know I'm going to write all in one go.

Mine is a Macbook Air, and while it's not quite as small as my previous netbook, I like it way better and I swear it's lighter too. I need that Internet connection though! I know it's my downfall in a lot of situations, but I need random name generators, research websites, resources, etc.

Question: Does anybody here use music or a certain 'sound' (rain, etc.) when they write? It seems to help some people but most of the time it just distracts me.

[ayumidah]

I have a laptop that's JUST for writing, it's not connected to the Internet or anything. So I hole up at my desk and just go at it for as long as I can. I use Wordpad and generally Arial font.

My writing desk tends to look a bit like this: http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j274/ayumidah/Photobucket%20new%20version%20sucks/100_2068_zps3b8f850a.jpg with varying amounts of clutter, haha.

[siofrabunnies]

I used to use my netbook, but it's been so slow lately. I should have researched them better before I bought one. It was so nice for school, because I'd have hours free everyday, as long as my assignments didn't take too much time. And the low weight is definitely a huge plus!

These days, I'm in the house almost all of the time, and I just use my desktop. Notes and ideas, sometimes corrections, I'll jot down in a .txt with my tablet or on a piece of paper, but almost all of my writing is done at my normal computer. If I'm traveling, I'll use a notebook or bring my netbook, depending on how much I think I'll write.

I use LibreOffice (spin of of OO). I tried downloading one of those minimalist programs, and it was all just too empty. I need to use a lightly serifed font. My favorite for my desktop is Cambria, in 9 or 10 pt font. My eyes and mind are so picky about how my screen looks when I write.

[inkdust]

MacBook, Scrivener, Times New Roman 12 pt, zoom 125%. Haha.

I used Word up until last year when I decided to actually learn Scrivener and realized that it made writing a 300 page novel 300x easier. I had barely started my current project, so it wasn't hard to transition.

Once in a while for a scene I'll hand write a bit on college ruled paper with a blue papermate pen, but now that I'm writing mainly at home and not before/during/after class, that's only for when I need a jolt.

Plotting, on the other hand, MUST be done with pen and paper.

[sarillia]

I use my nearly 5-year-old Toshiba laptop with keys that have the letters practically scratched off from overuse. I also use Q10. It's fullscreen and highly customizable. I have it set to a black background with light blue text because I've found that that's easiest on my eyes (I'm incredibly sensitive to light) and I use a font called Constantia because I like how it looks. I also have it set to show the word count at all times because, perhaps counterintuitively, I don't worry about it so much when it's always there and just part of the background.

[elydesia]

A whole lot of my earlier work was written in Microsoft Word, because my old computer came with it preinstalled.
I then went through OpenOffice after I got my laptop, and now LibreOffice on my new desktop.

Have been thinking about getting a netbook for exactly the reasons you've stated, but am quite strapped for money. When on the go, I make do with a binder and a portfolio.
Over the years, I slowly migrated from writing story notes in notebooks to writing in binders.

I'm actually pretty strict when it comes to what media I use for my story notes for which storyline/plot. If I write by hand, I'll remember it better. If I type it up, it's easier to access. Just how it goes.